BCG Nashville or Bain Atlanta?

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on the offers!

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, I would highly advise you to talk to more consultants from both consulting firms about each other's claimed advantages. I am quite sure that (almost) all the criteria you mention are much more similar than you might imagine from hearsay and/or the firm's own claims.
• Moreover, I would highly advise you to opt for the option that better aligns with your professional (and maybe even personal) mid- to long-term goals. In order to make an informed decision, I would advise you to do the following:
  • Weigh the different criteria that are meaningful to you independently of the current options (e.g., exit opportunities, staffing, culture, compensation). After that, score the two options based on your criteria and their weighting, resulting in two scores. This way, you have covered the left-brain perspective.
  • Critically assess your initial reaction to the outcome of the scores. For instance, if you feel the urge to tweak the numbers, this is a solid indicator that you do not want this decision to become reality. This way, you have covered the right-brain perspective.
  • By doing so, you will be able to integrate both parts of the brain into the decision-making, guaranteeing a higher chance that you will still be happy with it years later.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on your specific situation, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

Hello!

First of all, congratulations on getting the offers! Both of these locations and companies could be great options, depending on your personal circumstances and future plans. I suggest you consider the following when taking a decision:

1. Personal location preferences: Do you see yourself / your family living in Nashville or Atlanta long-term, or are both of these short-term steps before moving to a city you would prefer to live in? If the latter, then what would be the next step / next city you see yourself in and which of these two could get you closer to that?
2. Career interests: Is consulting something you would like to do long-term? Are there specific industries that you are more interested in (and which of the two has more expertise / clients in those industries)? While you will likely be able to travel in both options, the makeup of the industries in each city could (somewhat) determine the makeup of the clients in each of these offices. This could be relevant as you advance in your career and, for example, want to spend more time closer to your family, thus preferring to travel less and work more with local clients
3. Exit opportunities: As Bain is pretty strong in PE, if this is a path you are interested in, then Bain could be a better option. If you would like to exit to an industry BCG is strong in (especially in Nashville), then BCG might be the better option

In any case, it's a good 'problem' to have, as both options are good! Good luck!

Maria

Congratulations on landing the offer! BCG Nashville is a newer office, which comes with its pluses and minus -- you get to play a role in the office's growth. Bain in Atlanta might have broader access to clients in different industries. I would prioritize your personal situation (where it makes sense to live) because you can travel within the South easily for casework. Bain has a more office-centric staffing model, so take that into consideration.   

Hey there, 

Without knowing more about you, it would be difficult to give you a definitive answer on which option to take. To evaluate this, you'd need to consider (for yourself) which between the two is more important for you: staffing flexibility and opportunities vs work-life balance and culture. 

Then apply a long term view on what you want to get out of consulting, how you'd want to exit, which city you'd prefer living in, how much travel you'd want to do (or not). Then pick the option that ticks most of your boxes based on your individual preferences. 

Bain does have more of a local staffing model, and Atlanta is a great city with lots of established industries and practices, so this option still may possess lots of career opportunities and staffing flexibility. BCG's Nashville office is newer and smaller, so you may do more travel to get a wider scope of opportunities. 

All the best

Congrats on both offers!

I always advise candidates in this position - where do you actually want to live? Nashville and Atlanta are very different cities, and I'll bet you have a gut feeling on which one you might prefer. Optimizing for work opportunities and career growth is one thing, but remember that all the time you don't spend at work, you'll be in the city of your choosing! Which city offers you the social life, activities, etc. that you prefer?

As others have mentioned, each firm also has its own specializations. Bain for example is the gold standard for private equity due diligences, and so would be the better option if you wanted to exit to PE in a few years. However BCG also is strong in various specialties, so it depends on where you may think your interests lie. 

All the best!

First, I recommend getting a coaching session to help you advise.

This is a big life decision right? This affects your future happiness/success, right? You are about to receive a big signing bonus + salary, right?

Well, that's called investment and ROI.

Regardless, none of us can really help you with a Q&A without knowing you. This is a subjective decision.

My advice?

Figure out your core. Your gut. The elephant (not the rider). Your subconscious. Waht does it want?

Don't do a pros and cons list. Consultants don't do that.

They framework, they figure out what really materrs (one to two things!) and eliminate what doesn't.

Keep it simple.

Happy to help you figure it out as well, with an unbaised view, focused on figuring out your values/preferences and which choice best aligns.

Oh, also, don't forget to negotiate! I doubled my signing bonus from $20k to $40k with BCG....you should be negotiating too!